I absolutely loved this book! I couldn't put it down and stayed up until literally 3 AM to finish it. The Bane Witch is a fast-paced, spooky, gripping dark fantasy and such a unique and fresh take on witches in a story. It combines magic with elements of a crime thriller, and the result is eerie, very suspenseful, and overall unputdownable. It is a perfect fit for fans of true crime (myself included) and fantasy lovers alike -- it has a bit of everything really, including an adorable romance and my personal favorite -- FEMALE RAGE.

Ava Morgyn's prose is simply exceptional. Her writing is lyrical, witchy, evocative, and lush. I felt so immersed in the woodsy Adirondacks setting, and it was perfect for the eerie tone of the story.

I was so fascinated by the fmc, Piers. She is such a well fleshed-out and layered character. She meticulously plots out her escape from her abusive husband, and though I'm no crime expert, it seemed to me that Ava Morgyn did her research! And not just on how to get away with faking one's death and murder, but also a great deal about poisonous plants and botany. Once Piers makes it to Crow Lake, where her great aunt lives (with the help of a certain handsome detective who I LOVED)... the pace of the story stays consistently captivating at every turn as Piers must both confront her own ancestral magic and race against time to catch the ever-present Saranac Strangler.

I can't recommend this book enough! It was a perfect fall read for me, and I'm so grateful to have been able to read this ARC courtesy of NetGalley!

Such a great story! Loved reading this just in time for halloween! Overall a cute and quick read for halloween

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!

What a great book! Great read during spooky season! Spooky and witchy are the best mix! I liked the writing style and the characters are great! I enjoyed this one!

LOVED. The characters truly felt real and I was engaged with the story the entire time! The pacing wasn't my favorite all the time but I loved the read regardless. I thought it was original, entertaining and an overall great read.

Summary: Piers has always had a strange compulsion to eat poisonous plants. At age five she ate toxic pokeweed berries which did not harm her, but resulted in the death of a stranger – a man she didn’t know. As an adult, she decides to fake her own death in an act of desperation to escape her violent husband Henry before he ultimately kills her. She flees to her great aunt Myrtle, whom she barely knows, and Myrtle’s home in the mountains. There she forges a trusting relationship with her great aunt and learns about her true nature and heritage as a Bane Witch. In the meantime, Henry suspects she is still alive and is waiting for his opportunity to pursue her, while a serial killer that strangles women comes closer and closer to the community Piers now calls home. Will Piers learn her new skills quickly enough to save herself?

Thoughts: This page-turner was an engaging mix of fantasy, romance and thriller. There was much to love about the story – the secluded and scenic setting, the increasing tension and sense of menace, the powerful female characters and of course the witchcraft! The character of Det. Reyes got on my nerves, blundering around and creating problems for Piers, but that is proof of good character writing. I really enjoyed the entire concept of a bane witch – what they are and where they find their power. The smart-mouth and firecracker dynamics of the bane witch coven was so well-written and fun to read. I think the only aspect I didn’t love was the ongoing relationship with the sheriff, which I felt was a distraction from Piers’ true purpose. It’s a cracking good read and all the witchy lovers should have it on their list.

A great book to kick off the fall reading season - spooky and witchy with a sprinkle of feminine rage 🥰

I found some elements of the writing style, specifically the dialogue, to be a bit clunky. And some of the witchy details didn’t totally add up. You have to be “in bloom” for the poisons to take effect, and yet some of the witches can eat the toxins and use them whenever they want? Doesn’t make sense to me.

Overall pretty fun and atmosphereic.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“The Bane Witch” by Ava Morgyn is an engaging, dark fantasy novel that weaves together elements of murder and magic. The plot is original and gripping, filled with a unique magic system and a richly developed world that kept me consistently turning the pages late into the night. While this is definitely a witchy book, it’s also an incredibly dark book, so be aware of the content warnings before reading, specifically with explicit descriptions of physical/domestic abuse and sexual assault. This is not a lighthearted exploration of magic; this book is about revenge against those who harm others intentionally.

The story alternates between two main perspectives: Acacia, who is discovering her powers and place in the world, and Reyes, who delves into a mystery surrounding Acacia. Both characters are well-developed, and their arcs create a captivating dynamic throughout the novel. Acacia's intelligence and the meticulous way she frames her husband is a standout aspect of the story, though I found myself wanting more of Reyes’ perspective, especially as the plot neared its conclusion. There was a bit much going on with all the subplots and different characters towards the end, and I think more of Reyes’ perspective would have made it easier to digest all the information.

Morgyn’s writing style is evocative, with a lot of attention to detail, though at times the descriptions can feel a bit heavy, especially with some of the darker moments involving the men who intentionally hurt others. However, this doesn’t detract much from the overall pacing, which is fast and satisfying. The magic system within the coven is beautifully crafted, and the sense of community among the witches provides a much-needed balance to the book's darker themes. I loved learning how each bane witch’s magic was different, like how the magic was practically an evolution of the basis of the poison magic.

Speaking of darkness, “The Bane Witch” does not shy away from heavy, violent content. The book includes explicit depictions of domestic abuse and sexual assault, which might be difficult for some readers. That said, the book also offers hope, showing that even in a world filled with corruption and cruelty, there are good people, like Regis, who provide a beacon of kindness and justice. The inclusion of an adorable dog who survives and thrives throughout the story adds a touch of warmth amid the otherwise grim narrative.

Overall, “The Bane Witch” is an excellent read for fans of dark, magical tales with complex characters and intricate world-building. Ava Morgyn masterfully balances dark, violent themes with moments of hope and justice, making this a memorable and satisfying novel. I look forward to reading more of Morgyn’s work in the future.

This was such a different take on your normal “witchy” read. It is full of female rage and how a coven takes justice into their own hands. The magic system Ava created is unique.

The story starts strong with our FMC, Piers and how she is running from an abusive husband. She fakes her death and planned out an elaborate scheme so that everyone would turn toward her husband. I flew through these pages; it was so suspenseful. When she finally makes it to her only living relative, Aunt Myrtle, she learns that she’s a witch. Something that her mother had always hid but explains so much about her past. It also explains how dangerous things seem to always find her.

This was thrilling and very dark read. While it shows the dark reality things that happen in the real world, it also shows the light too. I loved the way that Ava wove in hope and strength.

This was a great read. The story is original, interesting, and kept me consistently engaged. My favorite aspect was the writing style, although character development, world building, and pacing were also executed well. The characters felt like real people. At times, it seemed there was a little too much description but it didn't really hinder the progression of the plot. The conclusion was satisfying and felt complete.

I had not read any work by this author before but this will not be the last. Thank you to NetGalley for granting me an ARC copy to review. This review and the opinions therein are entirely my own.

The Bane Witch will live on as a traveling book in LiterALLy BOOKiSh, the best book club on Facebook.

<b>What I loved:</b>
-This is a new take on a witch story, unique and creative.
-The cover is gorgeous.
-The feminist rage behind the book - I love seeing more of this.
-The complexity to the plot and characters.

<b>What prevented it from being a 5 star book:</b>
-Potentially due to the book release being in its early stages, I did not see any of the trigger warnings for this book, only the fantasy genre and cool plot summary and beautiful cover. I was looking for a fun witch spooky fantasy, so I guess I did in fact get that, but this book is a lot. Proceed with caution please. This needs to be properly categorized and labeled so readers know what they are getting into and can truly enjoy it. It unfortunately hindered my reading experience.
-The writing style is not my personal favorite. I believe this is personal preference though.

Thank you for allowing me to read this advanced copy in exchange for my honest feedback!

<i>Triggers:</i>
I believe/hope these are included in the physical copy. I did not see anything in the Ebook I received.

Seizures, domestic violence, death, eating disorder, family conflict, blood, gore, sexual trauma, assault, kidnapping, murder, suicide, so basically every single one you can have? I was not prepared for this. Anyone looking for those looking for these elements will be happy with this dark novel.

First off a big thank you to the publisher as well as to the author and NetGalley for inviting me to read this I'm so glade they because I needed a book that I could get lost in especially since I've been in a slight reading slump since August. And this book is now a new all time favorite of mine , it was so different then any witch book I've read before. What won me over was how different the Bane witch magic is and how they use poison, how their for justice and I loved how in the family their names are that of poisonous plants, I also loved how there was a touch of romance but it didn't take anything way from the story. And even though thus is my first book by Ava Morgan, I can say that I'm so looking forward to more of her books .

I really enjoyed reading this book, it had that element that I was expecting from the description. The characters worked overall in this universe and had that feel that I was looking for. It uses the witch element in a way that I was hoping for and thought the use of the coven was wonderfully done and enjoyed getting to read this. It was suspenseful and I was engaged with what Ava Morgyn wrote.

THIS WAS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS WANTING

The suspense, the drama, the female rage, the justice of it all-ugh, I am speechless in the BEST way.

100/10 I need seventeen of them right now. I hope that there will be more after this! It NEEDS to be a series.

This was such memorizing book. The Bane Witch has captivating characters with twisty plot intricated with magic. Truly a delightful read.

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This has a neat magical system and love the coven. I love suspense in my books but I did feel like it was a little slow at times. Perfect for fall season

This book started off very promising. I liked the prose and appreciated getting some backstory for Piers. The more I read though, the less interesting it became. I don’t know how to explain it other than the scenes felt boring. Piers herself was confused for much of the story so it was hard to understand her character and choices. I found the Reyes chapters more interesting than Piers’.

I find it riveting how the narrative blends witchcraft with gripping thriller elements, showcasing Morgyn’s skill in crafting a tale where the line between justice and vengeance blurs. Readers are in for a spellbinding ride, with each page brimming with dark allure and chilling intrigue.

I'm conflicted with this one. I liked it a lot for the coven, all the witches, their unique magic system blooming, and the main characters' inner conflicts, but at the same time, it's one I wouldn't reread. It's dark and violent and shows how easily men do what they please, and no court or police will bring justice if there's enough money. It's infuriating. At the same time, the author balances it, giving us a sense of community, showing us males who are kind, considerate, and ask for permission who also represent the law and care for justice. I am glad I've read this one. The women are like superhero vigilantes hunting down rots of society. 4.5 for me.
Thank you, publisher and NetGalley, for this e-arc.